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Launching into the sun is a VERY difficult achievement. So far we've launched one solar probe, and dozens of other probes. It launched back in 2018, and still h
by jermaustin1 5y ago
Launching into the sun is a VERY difficult achievement. So far we've launched one solar probe, and dozens of other probes. It launched back in 2018, and still has 3.5 years before it will actually reach the sun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe
- s1artibartfast 5y agoGoing to the sun is easy, going there fast is hard. You could put a tiny ion thruster on it and get it there in a million years
- thfuran 5y agoWe don't actually much care about when trash would hit the sun. But yes, it's a huge delta v compared to just getting to orbit.
- skykooler 5y agoAdding a long duration deep space maneuvering system to allow the trash to precisely navigate the necessary gravity assists would also be far from feasibly economical.
- dr_orpheus 5y agoYes, for reference the capability of the Delta IV Heavy [0] (which launched the Parker Solar probe) is ~28,000 kg in to LEO. And the Parker solar probe [1] was only 685 kg. I don't know how close to the limit of the mass this is to get in to this orbit, but it still gives you an idea of the capability to get something to the Sun versus in to LEO. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_IV_Heavy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_IV_Heavy [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe
- shadowgovt 5y agoIt is, indeed, way cheaper to fling it into space beyond the solar system with the right planetary alignment.